Chapter 90 The curtain opens
In the nine border towns.

Border soldiers like Yang Zheng are both soldiers and farmers in the garrison.

As a result, these administrative officials in the government offices had the power to strangle the soldiers.

After listening to what Zhang Sisun said, Yuan Chonghuan couldn't help but nodded secretly.

Just when he was worrying that he would not have a suitable opportunity to establish his authority after returning, a civil servant happened to be sent to him.

Yuan Chonghuan immediately ordered his men to capture the two men. In front of the soldiers, he drew his imperial sword and beheaded them without even giving them a trial.

This move made Bi Zisu, who was born as a civil servant, dumbfounded. However, Yuan Chonghuan just raised the imperial sword in his hand with pride and said in a pretentious manner: "Execute first and report later. This is a special permission granted by the emperor!"

Zhang Sishun and others were even more dumbfounded. They had originally come to complain with the mentality of just giving it a try, but they didn't expect Yuan Dudu to be so sharp and directly beheaded the culprit!
Looking at the two heads lying on the ground with their eyes open, everyone swallowed their saliva and took back the words about reissuing the withheld military pay.

However, to their surprise, Yuan Chonghuan said a few words to the attendants around him, and then a carriage came out pulling several large boxes.

Yuan Chonghuan opened one of the boxes and pointed at the silver. He said, "This is the salary that the emperor has allocated to you out of consideration for the hard work of the soldiers. You should have received this month's salary from Ningyuan City. This money is not yours."

"But I want you to have a good year, just as a way to make up for the salary that was withheld from you. Of course, I will pursue the stolen money of these two people later, and then I will not give you the money."

The soldiers never thought that there would be such a good thing. This was equivalent to advance payment, which would return the recovered stolen money to them first. Naturally, there was no reason for the soldiers to disagree to get the money in advance.

So, on this day of Zhengdan Festival.

The Ningyuan City, which had been gloomy at first, suddenly became lively, with everyone's face filled with joy.

Even dogs won’t be kicked when walking on the road.

Looking at the soldiers who were happily receiving their pay, neither Yuan Chonghuan nor Bi Zisu would have thought of this.

It was precisely because of the silver allocated in advance by Chongzhen that the vicious case that historically represented the complete beginning of the deterioration of military discipline in Liaodong was eliminated.

The original historical trajectory began from this year, with various military mutinies occurring one after another.

The Liaodong governor Bi Zisu was spared a severe beating and did not have to hang himself.

The well-known soldier Zuo Liangyu was not implicated in this incident and was not sent back to the interior, so he was able to continue staying in Liaodong.

After distributing the military salaries and instructing Bi Zisu to recover the stolen money, Yuan Dudu continued to carry hundreds of thousands of taels of silver eastward, inspecting the border and distributing the silver.

Wherever he went, there was thunderous cheers!

For a time, the entire Guanningjin Defense Line was in an unprecedented high morale.

…………

However, while the people of Liaodong were immersed in the joyous atmosphere of celebrating a prosperous new year, the Kharchin tribes were in a gloomy mood.

In a huge yurt, "Karachin Khan" Lashibu, "Hongtaiji" Buyan Ahai and more than ten tabunangs (Mongolian: son-in-law, the title of the leader of a small Karachin tribe) from the 36 families of Karachin sat with sad faces and said nothing. After a long silence, Karachin Khan Lashibu, the nominal leader of the 36 families of Karachin, said angrily: "Are you still unwilling to send troops?"

Hong Taiji (Taiji means prince) Bu Yan Ahai said dejectedly: "Those short-sighted guys in the east don't understand the wolf ambition of Lin Dan Khan at all! Shu Bu wants to laugh at us, but he doesn't know that after we are eliminated, he will be the next one to be eliminated by Lin Dan Khan!"

Tabunangdulengguying, one of the thirty-six families, suddenly said, "Since we can't unite the thirty-six families, why don't we ask Huang Taiji for help?"

"Even two of Lin Danhan's own Chahar Eight Tribes, the Naiman Tribe and the Aohan Tribe, have already expressed their submission to Huang Taiji and formed an alliance through marriage. Seeking cooperation with the Later Jin at this time is not an insult to the prestige of the Golden Family!"

Tabunangwandan Wei Zheng also echoed: "Dulengguying is right. There is a saying in the Southern Dynasty that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Why don't we unite with our friends?"

The leaders of the small tribes present were all frightened by Ligdan Khan, especially the battle that had just taken place in Guihua City (Hohhot), where the Kharchin tribes were badly defeated and lost more than 3,000 horses alone.

In addition, many Tabunangs of small tribes were killed by Ligdan Khan, and even another taiji named Bandi among the Kharchin tribes was killed.

Taiji is a title higher than Tabunang, and is second only to Kalachin Khan among the Thirty-Six Kalachin Families.

This battle has completely destroyed the souls of the Kharchin tribes.

The headquarters directly under Kharchin Khan was almost destroyed.

Lashib, the Khan of Kharchin, was still immersed in great grief. In this battle, several of his most beloved princesses were kidnapped. He didn't know whether they were having their coming-of-age ceremony in the yurt of Ligdan Khan, so he didn't express any opinion.

Buyan Ahai, who was second only to Lashib in status, had no choice but to express his opinion: "Of course it is possible to unite with the enemy of the enemy, but Lindan Khan is so powerful that I am afraid Huang Taiji will not send troops."

"That's easy!" Du Leng Guying said, "The news of the battle in Guihua City has not spread yet. We can write a letter to Huang Taiji and say that we led an army of 100,000 to defeat Ligdan Khan in Guihua City and annihilated Ligdan Khan's 40,000 Chahar troops!"

"Anyway, Huang Taiji has always regarded Lin Danhan as a thorn in his side. Hearing that Lin Danhan's strength has been greatly weakened, he must be very tempted. He thinks this is a great opportunity to annihilate Lin Danhan in one fell swoop! In addition, with our Kharchin coalition forces, there is no reason for Huang Taiji not to be tempted!"

"That's a good idea!" Buyan Ahhai's eyes lit up, and he said, "But who should write this letter? If it's my Khan or me, will people look down on me? But if it's just one of you, it doesn't seem to be enough to convince Huang Taiji."

Du Lengguying took the responsibility and said, "Let's write it in the name of all the tribes in the south. It will not show weakness but also be powerful enough!"

Buyan Ahai looked at Lasxibu. Whether the final decision would be made would require consulting the "common leader".

Lashib just nodded, and said with a dead heart: "Let's do it."

As a result, neither the Ming Dynasty, Ligdan Khan, nor the Jiannu noticed that a secret letter was being sent rapidly from Kalaqin to Shenyang.

If nothing unexpected happens, this letter will officially open the curtain of the Ming Dynasty's tragedy.

Chongzhen, who had been living a comfortable life since he raided the Huizhou salt merchants, has been feeling a little upset recently.

The main reason is that Mao Wenlong, the general of Dongjiang River, recently submitted a memorial requesting for military pay.

(End of this chapter)